JP3995461B2 - Tire recommendation system and tire recommendation server - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tire recommendation system that recommends a tire that matches a user's usage condition to a user, and a server used in the system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, for tires for trucks and buses, tire manufacturers, dealers, etc. select and recommend to the user tires that seem to match the user's usage conditions, and the users have purchased the recommended tires. The tire selection specifically includes the necessity of pattern selection / strengthening specifications.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional tire recommendation method described above, in practice, manufacturers, dealers, and the like did not know the usage status of users in detail. Therefore, the optimum tire for the user has not always been recommended.
An object of the present invention is to provide a system and a server for accurately grasping a situation of a tire in use by a user and recommending a tire to the user in accordance with the use situation of the tire.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to achieve the above object. In the tire recommendation system of the present invention, a vehicle terminal and a tire recommendation server are connected via a communication network. The vehicle terminal includes a first transmission / reception unit, a first processing unit, and a first storage unit. And the first storage unit stores the data indicating the use status of the tire while the vehicle is traveling and the ID of each tire of the vehicle in association with each other. In accordance with the control by the processing unit, data indicating air pressure, temperature, and amount of deflection indicating tire usage is received from an air pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a deflection amount sensor attached to a tire mounted on the vehicle, and the data is received. The tire recommendation server is associated with the tire ID stored in the first storage unit and transmitted to the tire recommendation server via the communication network at predetermined time intervals. The tire recommendation server includes a second transmission / reception unit, a second transmission unit, Processing unit and second storage And includes a user database, the second transceiver in accordance with the control by the second processing unit, which communicates with the vehicle terminal via a communication network,
The second storage unit stores, for each tire type , usage conditions of each tire including an internal temperature, an internal heat generation index, an allowable load × speed, and a position exchange interval, and the user database includes at least the tire ID and the tire ID. The recommended tire pattern corresponding to the ID is stored, and when the second transmitter / receiver receives data indicating the tire condition at predetermined time intervals, the data corresponds to the tire ID, and the air pressure, temperature, and deflection amount are stored. Using the history of air pressure, temperature, and deflection amount recorded in the user database, at least a numerical value corresponding to each item indicating the use condition of the tire stored in the storage unit is predetermined. Calculate using the formula, specify the usage conditions of the tire currently in use from the storage unit, each numerical value calculated by calculation and the current use specified from the storage unit To determine whether or not the tire currently in use conforms to the usage conditions by comparing the usage conditions of the existing tires based on predetermined criteria, and the result of the determination is non-conforming In this case, by comparing each numerical value calculated by calculation with the use condition of each tire stored in the storage unit, a suitable tire is extracted from the storage unit and selected as a recommended tire. It is characterized by this.
[0005]
The tire recommendation server includes a transmission / reception unit, a processing unit, a storage unit, and a user database, and the transmission / reception unit communicates with a vehicle terminal via a communication network according to control by the processing unit. Yes, the storage unit stores the use conditions of each tire including the internal temperature, the internal heat generation index, the allowable load × speed, and the position exchange interval for each tire type, and the user database includes at least the tire ID and the ID The recommended tire pattern corresponding to is stored, and when the transmission / reception unit receives data indicating the tire condition at predetermined time intervals, the data records the history of air pressure, temperature, and deflection amount corresponding to the tire ID. to is intended, the processing section recorded pressure in the user database, temperature, using a deflection amount of history, the use conditions of the tire being stored in at least the storage unit Calculate the numerical value corresponding to each item with a predetermined formula, specify the usage conditions of the tire currently used from the storage unit, each numerical value calculated by calculation and the current use specified from the storage unit To determine whether or not the tire currently in use conforms to the use condition by comparing the use condition of the tire based on a predetermined standard, and the result of the determination is nonconforming In some cases, by comparing each numerical value calculated by calculation with the use conditions of each tire stored in the storage unit, a suitable tire is extracted from the storage unit and selected as a recommended tire. It is characterized by being.
[0006]
The recommended tire can be distributed to a vehicle management terminal disposed in a company or the like that manages the vehicle via the communication network. The distribution destination may be a vehicle terminal or a dealer terminal. Furthermore, the user can make a recommended tire order from a vehicle management terminal or the like to the tire recommendation server via the communication network.
[0007]
Moreover, the information regarding the tire position exchange interval can be used as the tire usage status. In this case, for example, tire position exchange interval information is transmitted to the tire recommendation server via the communication network from a dealer terminal possessed by a dealer who performs tire replacement. The tire recommendation server selects an optimum tire including this information.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The overall configuration of the tire recommendation system will be described with reference to FIG.
A tire recommendation server 1 is connected to a communication network 2 including the Internet, a telephone line, and the like. A relay station 3, a vehicle management terminal 4, and a dealer terminal 7 are further connected to the communication network 2. The vehicle terminal 6 mounted on the vehicle 5 and the mobile terminal 11 possessed by the dealer perform mobile communication with the relay station 3. In addition, although the relay station 3, the vehicle management terminal 4, the vehicle terminal 6, the dealer terminal 7, and the portable terminal 11 are actually arranged in plurality, only one each is shown in the figure.
[0009]
All of the tires 8 (including spare tires) mounted on the vehicle 5 are equipped with transponders 9.
The transponder 9 includes a microchip including an air pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a deflection amount sensor, and a transmission / reception unit. The tire ID is stored in the memory. As a document describing a transponder including a tire deflection amount detection sensor, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-188113 is available. The transponder 9 converts the air pressure, temperature, and deflection amount detected by each sensor into data at a predetermined time interval and transmits the data together with the tire ID to the outside.
[0010]
The dealer terminal 7 is arranged at the tire dealer, and the mobile terminal 11 is owned by the dealer. When the dealer mounts or replaces the tire, the dealer terminal 7 or the portable terminal 11 transmits the tire ID and the tire position information or the position replacement information to the tire recommendation server 1.
The vehicle management terminal 4 is disposed at a business office such as a transportation company that manages the vehicle 5. The vehicle management terminal 4 communicates with the tire recommendation server 1 and the vehicle terminal 6.
[0011]
The configuration of the vehicle terminal 6 will be described with reference to FIG.
The vehicle terminal 6 includes a transmission / reception unit 12, a processing unit 13, and a storage unit 14. The transmission / reception unit 12 receives data indicating the usage status of the tire from the transponder 9, and receives a travel record from the tachograph 15 (FIG. 1). Further, the transmission / reception unit 12 communicates with the tire recommendation server 1 and the vehicle management terminal 4 via the relay station 3 and the communication network 2.
The processing unit 13 is configured by a CPU and controls the entire vehicle terminal 6.
[0012]
The storage unit 14 includes a RAM 16, a ROM 17, and a memory card 18. The RAM 16 and ROM 17 store programs and necessary data. The memory card 18 stores tire usage data received from the transponder 9 while the vehicle 5 is traveling.
The storage unit 14 further stores vehicle speed history data acquired from the tachograph 15 after the vehicle travels.
[0013]
The configuration of the tire recommendation server 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The tire recommendation server 1 includes a transmission / reception unit 21, a processing unit 22, a storage unit 23, and a user database 24 (hereinafter, “database” is referred to as “DB”).
The transmission / reception unit 21 communicates with the vehicle terminal 6 and the vehicle management terminal 4 via the communication network 2. The processing unit 22 is configured by a CPU and controls the entire tire recommendation server 1. The storage unit 23 stores programs and various data.
The storage unit 23 stores usage conditions for various tires.
[0014]
The user DB 24 is composed of the office information of FIG. 4, the vehicle information of FIG. 5, and the tire individual information of FIG.
The establishment information in FIG. 4 stores the vehicle user ID, vehicle registration number, and vehicle specifications / remarks of the owned vehicle for each establishment such as a shipping company.
The vehicle information in FIG. 5 stores a tire number, a tire user ID, a tire size, a PR / LI, a pattern, and a recommended tire pattern for each vehicle in the establishment information.
These pieces of information are input to the tire recommendation server 1 when the tire 8 is sold, when the tire is attached to the vehicle 5, or when the tire is replaced.
In the recommended tire pattern, when a recommended tire is selected by a method described later, the selected tire pattern is stored.
[0015]
In the individual tire information in FIG. 6, history data of tire air pressure, temperature, and deflection amount is recorded for each tire.
The operation of the vehicle terminal 6 will be described with reference to FIG.
The transponder 9 attached to the tire 8 converts the air pressure, temperature, deflection amount detected by each sensor at a predetermined time interval (for example, every 5 minutes), and the tire ID stored in the memory in advance into data, and sends it to the outside. Send.
When receiving data from the transponder 9 (step S1), the vehicle terminal 6 stores the data in the memory card 18 of the storage unit 14 (step S2).
[0016]
When the vehicle travels, the data is output from the memory card 18 as a file (step S3). The vehicle speed history data is acquired from the tachograph 15 (step S4). A load is calculated from the amount of deflection of the tire, the air pressure, and the spring constant of the tire (step S5).
The internal temperature, load, and vehicle speed thus obtained are stored in the RAM 16 as a log. As a result, data is accumulated every time travel is completed and transmitted to the tire recommendation server 1 at predetermined time intervals.
[0017]
The operation of the tire recommendation server 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
From the vehicle terminal 6, log data (in-traveling internal temperature, load, vehicle speed) stored in the storage unit 14 and the vehicle ID are transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 12 to the tire recommendation server 1 at predetermined time intervals.
Further, when the tire position is exchanged in the vehicle 5, the tire recommendation server 1 sends the tire position exchange information (vehicle ID, tire ID, exchange date and time) from the dealer terminal 7 or the portable terminal 11 by the dealer who exchanged the tire. Send to.
[0018]
When the log data is received from the vehicle terminal 6, the tire recommendation server 1 stores the history of air pressure, temperature, and deflection amount in the tire individual information (FIG. 6) in the user DB 24 according to the vehicle ID and tire ID (step S <b> 11). When tire position exchange information is received from the dealer terminal 7 or the portable terminal 11, the date and time of tire position exchange is stored in the tire individual information according to the tire ID (step S12).
[0019]
The past use situation is determined for each tire (step S13). For the determination, a numerical value representing the tire condition is calculated from log data stored in the tire individual information (FIG. 6) of the user DB 24. As each numerical value, an average value of log data is adopted, but a maximum value can also be adopted. Further, the load value is obtained from the air pressure and the deflection amount. Further, the interval of the tire position exchange date is converted into an index. This index assumes a standard exchange interval of 100%, an interval shorter than the standard is less than 100%, and a longer interval is greater than 100%.
Each calculated numerical value is compared with the use condition of the tire of the same type stored in the storage unit 23, and it is determined whether or not the currently used tire conforms to the use condition (step S13).
[0020]
FIG. 9 shows the use conditions of the tire stored in the storage unit 23. Here, an internal temperature, an internal heat generation index, an allowable load × speed, and a position exchange interval are stored for each tire type. In the figure, as a tire type, a standard tire (tire 1), a low heat generation tire (tire 2), and a maintenance-saving tire (tire 3) are illustrated.
The internal heat generation index is based on 100% as a standard, and 120% in the low heat generation tire (tire 2) indicates that the temperature increase can be reduced by 20% compared to the standard. In addition, the position exchange interval is obtained by converting the number of days in the exchange day into an index. The standard interval is 100%, and 120% in the maintenance-saving tire (tire 3) indicates that the exchange interval can be extended by 20%. .
[0021]
As a result of the determination (step S13), if the tire condition is within the use conditions, it is determined that the currently used tire is suitable for the user's use condition, and the process ends. At this time, the vehicle management terminal 4 may be notified that the tire currently used by the user conforms to the use condition of the tire.
[0022]
As a result of the determination, if the use condition is not met, an appropriate tire is selected as a recommended tire from the tires shown in FIG. 9 (step S14).
A specific example of the tire recommendation method will be described with reference to FIG.
In (A) to (C), the numerical values of the internal heat generation index, allowable load × speed, and position exchange interval for users 1 to 3 are shown. Since the tire currently in use is tire 1, it is compared with the standard type (tire 1) usage conditions (FIG. 9) stored in the storage unit 23, and the evaluations of ◎, ○, and X are stored in the inappropriate / appropriate column. Is done.
[0023]
In the example of (A), there is no problem with the usage status of the user 1 regarding the tire position replacement interval. However, since the internal temperature is 135 ° C. and exceeds the allowable temperature of 120 ° C., it is determined that the tire currently in use is not appropriate. In order to set the internal temperature of the tire to an allowable temperature, it is necessary to reduce heat generation by 112.5% or more. Therefore, a low heat generation tire (tire 2) is selected as a recommended tire.
In the example of (B), there is no problem with the internal temperature, but the load × speed exceeds the allowable value. Therefore, a low heat generation tire (tire 2) with sufficient load × speed is selected as a recommended tire.
In the example of (C), there is no problem in the internal temperature and load × speed, but the tire position replacement interval is 20% short (the replacement interval is 20% shorter than the standard). In this case, a maintenance-saving tire (tire 3) that can make the replacement interval 20% longer than the standard is selected as a recommended tire.
[0024]
In FIG. 10, “◎”, “◯”, and “X” shown in the appropriate / inappropriate column indicate the following criteria.
For the internal temperature, the allowable temperature is 120 ° C.
A: Less than 110 ° C, B: 110-120 ° C, x120 ° C or more.
For load x speed, for each tire potential,
A: Less than 80%, O: 80 to 100%, X: 100% or more.
Regarding the tire position exchange interval, the user expectation is set to 100,
A: 110 or more, O: 100 to 110, x: less than 100.
[0025]
When an appropriate tire is selected, a vehicle ID, a tire ID, and a recommended tire are transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 21 to the corresponding vehicle management terminal 4 (step S15). At this time, tire usage data may be added for the user's understanding. Moreover, it can also be made to transmit to the vehicle terminal 6 or the dealer terminal 7 instead of to the vehicle management terminal 4.
In addition, in the selection of the recommended tire (step S14), if a tire suitable for the use situation of the user is not stored in the storage unit 14, a special specification tire suitable for the use situation is ordered from the tire manufacturer (step S16). . As a result of this order, the recommended tire is transmitted to the vehicle management terminal 4 after it becomes possible to supply the tire that matches the usage status of the user. Further, new tire data is added to the recommended pattern column of the vehicle information (FIG. 5) of the user DB 24.
[0026]
With reference to FIG. 11, processing when the tire recommendation server 1 receives an order for a recommended tire from the vehicle management terminal 4 will be described.
When the user wishes to change to a recommended tire, the vehicle management terminal 4 orders the recommended band from the tire recommendation server 1. The order can be placed not only from the vehicle management terminal 4 but also from the dealer terminal 7 or other terminals.
When the recommended tire 1 receives the recommended tire from the vehicle management terminal 4 (step S21), the tire recommended terminal 1 refers to the vehicle information (FIG. 5) in the user DB 24 (step S22). Then, processing such as output of a slip necessary for shipping the recommended tire stored in the vehicle information to the user is performed (step S23).
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the tire recommendation system of the present invention, it is possible to accurately grasp the status of the tire being used by the user, and therefore it is possible to recommend to the user a tire suitable for the usage status of the tire.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a tire recommendation system to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the vehicle terminal in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a tire recommendation server in FIG. 1;
4 is a diagram showing a configuration (part 1) of the user DB in FIG. 3; FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration (part 2) of the user DB in FIG. 3;
6 is a diagram showing a configuration (part 3) of the user DB in FIG. 3; FIG.
7 is a flowchart showing processing in the vehicle terminal of FIG. 2;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a tire recommendation process in the tire recommendation server in FIG. 3;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing tire use conditions stored in the tire recommendation server in FIG. 3;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a concept of a tire recommendation method in the tire recommendation server of FIG. 3;
11 is a flowchart showing a tire order receiving process in the tire recommendation server of FIG. 3;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tire recommendation server 2 ... Communication network 3 ... Relay station 4 ... Vehicle management terminal 5 ... Vehicle 6 ... Vehicle terminal 7 ... Dealer terminal 8 ... Tire 9 ... Transponder 11 ... Portable terminal 12 ... Transmission / reception part 13 ... Processing part 14 ... Memory | storage Part 15 ... Tachograph 16 ... RAM
17 ... ROM
18 ... Memory card 21 ... Transmission / reception unit 22 ... Processing unit 23 ... Storage unit 24 ... User database

Claims (4)

The vehicle terminal and the tire recommendation server are connected via a communication network.
The vehicle terminal includes a first transmission / reception unit, a first processing unit, and a first storage unit,
The first storage unit stores data indicating the usage status of the tire and the ID of each tire of the vehicle while the vehicle is running,
The first transmission / reception unit is configured to control an air pressure, a temperature indicating a tire use state, a temperature sensor, and a deflection sensor from an air pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a deflection sensor attached to the tire mounted on the vehicle according to control by the first processing unit Data indicating the amount of deflection is received, and the data is associated with the tire ID stored in the first storage unit and transmitted to the tire recommendation server via the communication network at predetermined time intervals. ,
The tire recommendation server includes a second transmission / reception unit, a second processing unit, a second storage unit, and a user database.
The second transmission / reception unit communicates with the vehicle terminal via a communication network according to the control by the second processing unit,
The second storage unit stores, for each tire type , usage conditions of each tire including an internal temperature, an internal heat generation index, an allowable load × speed, and a position exchange interval ,
The user database stores at least tire IDs and recommended tire patterns corresponding to the IDs. When the second transmitter / receiver receives data indicating the tire status at predetermined time intervals, the data is stored in the tires. The history of air pressure, temperature, deflection amount is recorded corresponding to the ID of
The second processing unit corresponds to each item indicating at least the use condition of the tire stored in the second storage unit using the history of air pressure, temperature, and deflection amount recorded in the user database. The numerical value is calculated by a predetermined calculation formula, the use condition of the currently used tire is specified from the second storage unit, and each numerical value calculated by the calculation and the second storage unit is specified. It is determined whether or not the currently used tire conforms to the use condition by comparing the use condition of the currently used tire based on a predetermined standard, and the result of the determination Is incompatible, the numerical values calculated by the calculation are collated with the use conditions of the tires stored in the second storage unit to extract suitable tires from the second storage unit. And, it can be selected as the recommended tire, and performs,
A tire recommendation system characterized by A transmission / reception unit, a processing unit, a storage unit and a user database;
The transmission / reception unit communicates with a vehicle terminal via a communication network according to control by the processing unit,
The storage unit stores, for each tire type , usage conditions of each tire including an internal temperature, an internal heat generation index, an allowable load × speed, and a position exchange interval ,
The user database stores at least tire IDs and recommended tire patterns corresponding to the IDs. When the transmission / reception unit receives data indicating the tire status at predetermined time intervals, the data is used as tire IDs. Correspondingly, the history of air pressure, temperature, deflection amount is recorded,
The processing unit uses a history of air pressure, temperature, and deflection amount recorded in the user database, and at least a numerical value corresponding to each item indicating a tire use condition stored in the storage unit is a predetermined calculation formula Calculating in advance, specifying the use condition of the tire currently used from the storage unit, each numerical value calculated by the calculation and the use condition of the currently used tire specified from the storage unit in advance By comparing based on the established criteria, it is determined whether or not the tire currently in use conforms to the use conditions, and if the result of the determination is nonconformity, it is calculated by the above calculation. By comparing each numerical value with the use conditions of each tire stored in the storage unit, a suitable tire is extracted from the storage unit and selected as a recommended tire; It is performed,
Recommended tire server. The tire position exchange information is received as a tire situation by the transmission / reception unit , and the processing unit determines whether or not the tire situation to which the tire position exchange information is added is suitable for use conditions of the tire. 2. The tire recommendation server described in 2. The tire recommendation server according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the processing unit transmits data on the tire selected as the recommended tire from the transmission / reception unit .

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